Tuesday, June 17, 2008

GM won't commit to Oshawa plant, Hargrove says

General Motors is still saying it will close its pickup truck plant in Oshawa, Ont., in 2009, the head of Canadian Auto Workers union said after meeting with company officials on Tuesday.

The closing — expected to cost 2,600 CAW jobs — was announced on June 3 by GM, which cited a dramatic drop in truck sales. The CAW then blockaded the company's corporate headquarters in Oshawa, only moving Monday morning after GM won a court injunction.

Tuesday's talks did not produce any solid result, CAW president Buzz Hargrove said after the meeting.

Hargrove said he didn't have high expectations going in and would be "very surprised" if GM changed its mind about the plant's future. However, he added, "We've got to start somewhere."

Along with the blockade, the CAW has also said GM's action broke the contract with the union, and has talked about legal action. GM said it has the right to close the plant under the contract.

The plant assembles Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra half-ton trucks.



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